United States Geological Survey

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Glass Wool Filters for Concentrating Waterborne Viruses and Agricultural Zoonotic Pathogens

Hana T. Millen¹, Jordan C. Gonnering¹, Ryan K. Berg², Susan K. Spencer³, William E. Jokela³, John M. Pearce⁴, Jackson S. Borchardt¹, Mark A. Borchardt³

¹Wisconsin Water Science Center, United States Geological Survey, ²University of Wisconsin – Madison, ³Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, ⁴Alaska Science Center, United States Geological Survey

Glass wool filters have been used to concentrate waterborne viruses by a number of research groups around the world. Here we show a simple approach for constructing glass wool filters and demonstrate the filters are also effective in concentrating waterborne viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens.

Biology

Standardizing a Non-Lethal Method for Characterizing the Reproductive Status and Larval Development of Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida)

Caitlin E. Beaver¹, Susan R. Geda², Nathan A. Johnson¹

¹Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, United States Geological Survey, ²Garcon Point Aquatic Research Center, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Freshwater mussel conservation is dependent on monitoring reproductive patterns and processes of species. This study standardizes a non-lethal protocol for sampling gill contents, characterizing larval development, and providing a digital repository for data collected. This protocol-database package will be an important tool for mussel researchers in recovery of imperiled species.